Population 18,476 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Sawyer County
Household size in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.06 | 2.45 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.18 | 2.47 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.07 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.05 | 2.40 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
Sawyer County is a place of small households, averaging 2.05 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the southeast. Few Wisconsin counties have smaller households: only two of 72.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 47.5 | 39.9 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.6 | 40.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 51.2 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.6 | +2.6 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 51.2, Sawyer County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 45.6, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the southwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.8% | 10.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.6% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 9.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in Sawyer County than nationally: 9.7%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Wisconsin. The single-parent share is down 7.1 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Sawyer County
Renters in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.3% | 30.5% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.0% | 33.0% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 32.2% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.0 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.3% of households in Sawyer County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 49.5% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southwest. The renter share is down 5.0 points from 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.9% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 45.1% | 10.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 42.8% | 10.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 38.2% | 9.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Sawyer County: 38.2% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 1.7 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1970 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1971 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1972 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1974 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Sawyer County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Only one other Wisconsin county has newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $611 | $758 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $669 | $821 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $747 | $904 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $844 | $1,139 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$233 | +$380 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Sawyer County costs $844 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $233 a month since 2006–10, up 38%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 23.1% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Sawyer County
Bachelor's degrees in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.7% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.5% | 28.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 23.7% | 30.4% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 27.1% | 33.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.4 pts | +7.0 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Sawyer County than nationally: 27.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 7.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the north and least in the south.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.5% | 89.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 90.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.9% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.8% | 93.3% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.3 pts | +3.8 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Sawyer County is above the national rate: 93.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across Wisconsin. The share with a diploma is up 6.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Sawyer County
| Period | Sawyer County | Wisconsin | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.5% | 6.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.5% | 7.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.9% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | −3.4 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Sawyer County is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Wisconsin overall (3.3%). Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.0 points, in line with the national trend.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Sawyer County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sawyer County | 2.05 | 51.2 | 9.7% | 23.3% | 38.2% | 1985 | $844 | 27.1% | 93.8% | 5.5% |
| Washburn County | 2.21 | 51.4 | 6.7% | 17.8% | 32.3% | 1981 | $854 | 25.0% | 93.8% | 3.8% |
| Rusk County | 2.26 | 47.8 | 8.8% | 22.1% | 22.4% | 1978 | $904 | 16.8% | 92.6% | 5.1% |
| Barron County | 2.36 | 45.8 | 8.8% | 22.6% | 14.4% | 1975 | $928 | 23.5% | 91.6% | 2.8% |
| Ashland County | 2.31 | 43.3 | 8.0% | 26.6% | 22.4% | 1969 | $742 | 25.4% | 95.7% | 3.8% |
| Price County | 2.15 | 51.6 | 6.7% | 18.1% | 35.7% | 1973 | $758 | 17.7% | 93.8% | 2.9% |
| Burnett County | 2.37 | 54.9 | 5.4% | 14.1% | 48.1% | 1982 | $833 | 22.2% | 93.6% | 4.5% |
| Iron County | 1.97 | 54.1 | 7.9% | 11.5% | 38.7% | 1968 | $673 | 25.9% | 95.1% | 2.4% |
| Polk County | 2.32 | 46.4 | 8.5% | 19.0% | 17.0% | 1982 | $997 | 24.3% | 94.0% | 3.4% |
| Gogebic County | 2.04 | 49.4 | 8.1% | 19.0% | 29.4% | 1953 | $652 | 22.2% | 95.8% | 6.8% |
| Pine County | 2.31 | 47.0 | 9.0% | 18.4% | 23.7% | 1983 | $1,078 | 17.4% | 91.6% | 5.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Randolph County, WV · Jones County, NC · Juab County, UT · Keith County, NE · La Paz County, AZ · Rabun County, GA · Radford City, VA · Ramsey County, ND · Randolph County, AL · Randolph County, AR
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Sawyer County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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